On Tuesday, October 10th, EPA head Scott Pruitt announced that he would be repealing the monumental Clean Power Plan, which aims to aims to decrease the nation’s carbon pollution by about one-third by 2030 (from 2005 levels). Removing this act will mean less strict regulations for coal companies in the United States. Pruitt’s decision is heavily contested against by both EPA staff and members of the Congress.

Scott Pruitt led the EPA to withdraw its protection of the watershed of Bristol Bay, whose wild salmon fisheries are one of the most valuable in the world. Former EPA officials were shocked to see this protection based off of scientific evidence be overturned as it could result in the destruction of habitats in the Bristol Bay area.

Besides damage to the environment, mining operations in Ecuador have also forcibly displaced people from their homes. Many who were displaced were observed to suffer mental health problems such as depression as well as trauma.

Sonic Sea, created to educate and encourage change around issues of how ocean noise pollution negatively impacts marine life, won two Emmy Awards. The documentary has also already been successfully used by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the International Fund for Animal Welfare to push the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and other groups, companies, and governments to take action.

Over a period of 16 years, nonprofit environmental law organization Earthjustice defeated the last attempts by U.S. government at both the state and federal level to overturn the Roadless Rule. This rule, which was implemented under the Clinton administration, protects roadless areas in national forests from most road and logging related construction.